33 33: Him, Them, and Me
"Great pitch! Batter's out, three outs, switch of offense and defense!"
Facing Furuya's powerful pitching, Yokohama players seemed almost in a daze. Despite their supervisor's repeated instructions not to swing at the high straight ball, as soon as the ball was thrown, the Yokohama players reacted instinctively.
The fear of getting overpowered by the ball's momentum if they didn't swing propelled them into action.
After the ace, who was the ninth batter, was retired, Yokohama's first and second batters were dispatched easily – three strikeouts! It completely reshaped everyone's perception of Furuya from his initial appearance. If they had underestimated him before, that sentiment now soared to new heights.
All that lingered was Furuya's impact and a trace of apprehension in the air!
"Today's Seido needs to take note. After last year's Miyuki Kazuya, we now have the formidable pitcher Satoru Furuya this year!"
Furuya removed his hat, wiped his forehead, and exited the pitcher's mound with a composed stride, seemingly unaffected by the fact that he had just struck out three batters.
In the stands, Sawamura's expression grew increasingly determined. Observing Furuya's dynamic presence on the field, Sawamura's internal drive surged, akin to the uncontrollable and vibrant growth of spring grass.
His hands clenched tightly, and Haruichi at his side seemed to sense Sawamura's emotions, prompting him to part his lips, presumably to offer some words.
"Such innate talent. As long as you share the same year, the title of ace will always elude you," a tall figure materialized behind Sawamura and Haruichi, uttering chilling words.
Abruptly, Sawamura whipped his head around, casting a venomous glare at the man behind him. He recognized the voice instantly – it was the second string's catcher, Chris. The atmosphere tensed perceptibly, causing Haruichi to appear concerned on the sidelines. After all, Chris was a third-year upperclassman; he was obligated to rein in Sawamura-kun.
Had Alejandro been present, he might have let out a soft sigh. Haruichi's innocence remained intact, but as for Sawamura, well, when it came to showing disrespect to seniors, the once foolish and simple guy had surely mastered the art of it.
The heightened tension radiated through the stands, an almost palpable force.
As the Seido defenders returned to the bench,
"Hehe, great job!" Kuramochi hopped onto Furuya's back, his laughter ringing out as he ruffled Furuya's hair playfully.
"Excellent pitching! We'll take it from here!" Captain Yuki Tetsuya's lips curved into a slight smile, nodding in approval at Furuya.
Even Supervisor Kataoka offered a subtle nod, signifying his satisfaction with Furuya's performance. It was a rare sight to witness Furuya's usually tense expression loosen.
Observing Furuya being lauded by everyone, Alejandro clandestinely tightened his fist, a resolute determination flashing in his eyes. He couldn't afford to lag too far behind!
"Seventh inning, bottom half, Seidou High School's turn to bat, sixth in the order, catcher, Miyuki-kun!"
In this seventh inning, it's Miyuki's third at-bat.
With two hits in two attempts, as long as there are runners on base, he's been delivering as expected. However, this situation of leading off with no runners on base... Well, Alejandro on the bench seems to think there might be a slight issue...
In essence, is this about the evolution of gameplay or a shift in mindset?
Before the autumn tournament, Miyuki indeed struggled with the habit of not hitting well when the bases were empty, occasionally managing a hit in those circumstances.
However, his performance during the autumn competition displayed a complete turnaround. In every game, he exhibited the mentality befitting a leadoff hitter. As a catcher, as a captain, and as the cleanup batter, he left no room for imperfection!
The gap was a mere two or three months, yet Alejandro confessed he struggled to fathom it...
This time, with no runners on base, Alejandro couldn't help but think the odds of that individual getting a hit were almost pitifully low, right? His heart was filled with some anxious speculation.
Yet, reality proved the contrary. Against all odds, a catcher who had been regarded with cautious skepticism, conjured a pitch-perfect long hit to the left field, much to Alejandro's astounded gaze.
The leadoff batter, Kazuya Miyuki, lands a double!
"Pretend bunt, hit-and-run strategy!" Supervisor Kataoka's instruction echoed. If Yokohama had gradually regained momentum in the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings, managing to suppress Seido, then in the first half of the seventh inning, that momentum was obliterated by Furuya's impressive pitching strength!
Miyuki's double in the latter part of the seventh inning was all the more remarkable. The ace pitcher from Yokohama couldn't hide his unwillingness in his eyes.
Miyuki responded with an indifferent shrug, tipping his hat's brim as he received instructions from Supervisor Kataoka. He lowered himself slightly, muscles coiled in preparation.
Within the strike zone, Kenjiro signaled for a bunt.
The Yokohama catcher was taken aback. Wasn't Seido's seventh batter quite adept at hitting? Whether it's the statistics or his previous two hits, he's proven to be an all-around hitter without weaknesses.
Though not as imposing as Seido's lineup of base-clearing hitters, this batter's well-roundedness makes him a versatile asset within the Seido team. It's precisely due to his lack of flaws that he's a formidable adversary in his own right, a challenging figure to contend with.
To be honest, within their lineup, Yokohama perceives the first batter Kuramochi, the eighth batter Alejandro, and the ninth batter (who is the pitcher) as relatively manageable. As long as Kuramochi doesn't get on base, things are generally fine.
However, seeing Kenjiro, a player renowned for his excellent ability to make contact, lay down a sacrifice bunt, raises suspicions. Could there be a hidden strategy at play?
Yokohama's catcher let his gaze drift momentarily toward Yokohama's supervisor on the bench, who responded with a slight frown. The current score difference of 3 points remains within reach.
The first-year pitcher's performance in the initial half of the seventh inning did carry an imposing air, but it wasn't insurmountable. However, the foremost objective now is to prevent conceding runs at all costs!
Seido's strategy likely revolves around stability and incremental progress. With no outs and a runner on first, executing a sacrifice bunt positions the runner on third base with one out. Seido could subsequently employ various tactics, encompassing power hitting, sacrifice flies, or even forced scoring.
Furthermore, having a runner on third places considerable pressure on the pitcher and catcher. While a hit-and-run could be an option, Yokohama's supervisor settled on this approach after weighing the pros and cons.
"Well, we can't afford to let that guy reach third base easily. Infielders, advance for the defense. It's crucial to stifle or catch the ball!" Despite Kenjiro's commendable hitting ability, from Yokohama's supervisor's perspective, his prowess in long-distance hitting isn't particularly outstanding.
Yokohama's supervisor signaled a few times with his right hand, fixing his gaze on the catcher.
"We cannot afford to retreat here. Let's engage in a struggle and determine the outcome!"
The Yokohama catcher gave a slight nod, and the infielders moved forward as well, aiming to thwart Kenjiro and secure an out.
Meanwhile, on the batter's box, Alejandro observed the field's unfolding situation with a hint of nervousness, recalling the instructions Supervisor Kataoka had provided before taking the field.
With Yokohama's ace delivering and Kenjiro's swing of the bat, Alejandro's eyes widened, his hands tightly clenched, as he intently watched the scene before him!
